In the first three months of 2012, the Dow Jones industrial average gained 8.1%, the S&P rose 12% and the Nasdaq advanced 19%.

It was the biggest first-quarter gain for the Dow and S&P 500 since 1998, while the Nasdaq logged its best first quarter since 1991.

If history is any guide, April will be another strong month.

The S&P 500 has risen every April for the past five years, according to Schaeffer's Investment Research. The index has returned an average of 4.5% in April over the same period, making it the best month for the market by far.

"We continue to think the overall economic backdrop is steadily improving when you look at the jobs, manufacturing and consumer confidence data," said Detrick.

The gains in the first quarter were driven by improving economic data in the United States and easing concerns about the debt crisis in Europe. Stocks have also been boosted by expectations that the Federal Reserve will continue to support the economy, even as the outlook improves.

Stocks could find additional support if corporate earnings exceed investors' very low expectations, said Detrick. The first-quarter earnings season unofficially gets underway later in the month when Alcoa reports results on April 10.

Overall, S&P 500 earnings are forecast to slip 0.5% in the first quarter from the same period in 2011, according to FactSet. That would be the first time corporate profits declined since the third quarter of 2009.

In the week ahead, however, investors will be on watch for signs the U.S. economic recovery is gaining steam.

"The market will be looking for reasons to move higher, go sidewise or start to consolidate," said Quincy Krosby, market strategist with Prudential Financial in Newark, N.J. "Investors will be focused on the data next week, particularly the employment and manufacturing numbers."

The main event will be Friday's non-farm payrolls report from the Labor Department. Economists expect the report to show that employers added between 215,000 and 225,000 jobs in March, after a gain of 227,000 jobs in February.